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76 A DISCOURSE

book i, ti re generally Pollards, and such as are sheltered in warm corners andhedge-rows. To speak then particularly of Oaks , and generally of allother trees of the same kind, by some infallible characters, notice shouldbe taken of the manner of their spreading, stature and growth, shape andsize of the Acorn, whether single or in clusters, the length or shortnefsof the stalks, roundnefs of the cup, breadth, narrownefs, shape and in-

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believe that a wood should be raised by plants taken from a nursery. As each of thesemethods has its advantages, I shall therefore endeavour to show the best mode of proceed-ing in raising an Oak wood both ways, that every one may choose that which he likesthe best.

And, first, to raise a wood from acorns sown in the Seminary .

Let a proper spot in the seminary be prepared against the time the seeds are ripe. Thesoil should be loamy, fresh, and in good lieart; and should be prepared by digging it well,breaking all clods, and clearing it of weeds, roots, large stones, &c. The acorns shouldbe gathered from the straightest, most thriving, and beautiful trees ; and if they remainuntil they fall off of themselves, they will succeed the better.

Having a sufficient quantity of well-ripened acorns for your purpose, proceed to prepareyour beds in the ground that is just got ready for their reception. Mark out the beds witha line, four feet broad, and let there be an alley between each bed two feet wide; rakethe earth out of the bed into the spaces designed for the alley, until the bed be sunk abouttwo inches deep; then sow your acorns in the bed, about three inches asunder, and gentlyprefs them down with the spade, or, if more agreeable, they may be set in rows, the linesfor that purpose being marked out with a sharp-pointed stick. Throw the earth, that hasbeen raked into the alleys, over the acorns, and, after having drefsed up the bed, andgently prefsed it down with the back of the spade, proceed to the next bed, and so onuntil the whole be finished. This work is best performed in February, though someprefer the autumnal months.

In about six weeks the plants will appear above ground ; and in these beds they mayremain two years, without any further trouble or care, than keeping them clean from weeds,and now and then refreshing them with water in very dry seasons. When the trees aretwo years old, they will be of a proper size for planting out.

Let us now see in what manner we are to prepare the ground for their reception. Thebest way is by trenching, or double digging, as deep as the soil will admit of: but asthis is a very expensive proceeding, and consequently can only be practised upon a smallscale, I shall recommend another good method of preparing the ground. This is to bedone by proper ploughing ; and, if agreeable, the year before the land is planted, it mayhear a crop of oats, rape, or turnips. By this means the sward will be effectually de-stroyed. After the crop is off, let the ground be trench-ploughed, and then harrowed withheavy harrows to break the clods: about the end of October let it be again ploughed crofsways, and harrowed as before. This is the season for planting the sets; for the ground

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